BY BEN BIZOT

The Grady Grey Knights took on the Stone Mountain Pirates in their final home game of the season. After a one hour delay due to rain, the game kicked off as planned.

The Knights got off to a quick start when junior Graham Russell scored in the eighth minute after dribbling down the right side of the pitch before smashing the ball into the goal off of the Stone Mountain keeper for a 1-0 Grady lead.

After junior Bradley Macketta cleared a Stone Mountain free kick in the 12th minute and sophomore Miles Ezeilo saw his shot cleared off the goal line in the 22nd minute, the game began to slow down. The next 10 minutes saw a lot of slow play and very few chances for either side.

Each team had one chance before halftime, however, as Grey Knight freshman Alex Durham saw his shot get pushed back into play by the Stone Mountain keeper in the 33rd minute.

Seconds before the halftime break, a through ball split the Knights defense and Stone Mountain forward Marcus Duarto received the ball at the edge of the box. Freshman keeper Jack Hudson came up big and saved Duarto’s shot keeping Grady’s 1-0 lead intact at halftime.

As they did in the first half, the Grey Knights started the second half strong, with freshman Alex Durham striking a long-range shot that beat the Stone Mountain keeper in the 42nd minute to give Grady a 2-0 lead.

Stone Mountain had a huge chance to halve the lad in the 48th minute when midfielder German Ruiz drilled a free kick over the Grady wall, only to see his shot saved by Hudson.

In the 53rd minute, junior Anders Russell stole the ball from a Stone Mountain defender and dribbled down the field to start a fast break. Once he reached the edge of the box, he calmly crossed the ball to senior Arbey Ramirez who slotted the ball home to make the score 3-0, Grady.

Stone Mountain responded with a quick goal in the 54th minute when Pirate captain Roubin Dikori received a pass on the right side and cut across the middle before slotting it home to cut the Knights lead to 3-1.

Grady scored one final time in the 61st minute when a brilliant back-heel from junior Christian Peterson set up senior Matthew Peterson who scored in the top corner to give the Knights a 4-1 lead.

Grady played strong defense for the rest of the game, keeping Stone Mountain scoreless as the Grady Grey Knights beat Stone Mountain with a 4-1 score at the final whistle.

The Knights next take on rival North Atlanta on the road at 7:30 p.m. on April 14, the Tuesday after Spring Break.